Priority of Projects

(1) Among Economic Development Proposals that satisfy the criteria set forth in 801 CMR 51.03, the Secretary shall give highest priority to projects in Economically Distressed Municipalities in which both the unemployment rate and median income criteria of St. 2006, c. 293, § 7, as amended by St. 2008, c. 129, § 7(e) and St. 2012, c. 238, § 62, are met. The unemployment rates used for this purpose shall be the average rates for the 12 months prior to the Secretary’s issuance of the Preliminary Approval Letter, as calculated by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The median income levels used for this purpose shall be the median family income levels published by the U.S. Census Bureau in its most recent publication of these rates prior to the Secretary’s issuance of the Preliminary Approval Letter. (2) The Secretary shall give second highest priority to Economic Development Proposals in Economically Distressed Municipalities in which either the unemployment rate or the median income criteria of St. 2006, c. 293, § 7, as amended by St. 2008, § 7(e) and St. 2012, c. 128, § 62, is met. (3) The Secretary shall otherwise give preference to Economic Development Proposals that: (a) are located in Growth Districts; (b) commit to becoming at least LEED Silver certifiable for each Project Component from the U.S. Green Building Council under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System; (c) include Public Infrastructure Improvements that have been previously contemplated and desired by the Commonwealth or its agencies; or (d) that include Public Infrastructure Improvements that are reasonably likely to make other sites available for future economic development projects. These criteria will be weighed equally, and proposals satisfying more than one criterion will receive additional preferential consideration, but none of these criteria are required to be satisfied in order to be eligible for project approval.